Page 91 of An Epic Voyage

She hugged him.“I am.”

“Oh, honey, what happened to your face?”

“I had a run-in with one of the bodyguards.”

“Are you okay?”

“I am.”

“Has Franklin woken up?”Griffin asked.

“No, but I’ve been talking to him the whole time.He hasn’t responded.Do you think he’s dead now?”

Griffin reached down and checked for a pulse.“He’s alive.”He looked up at Jordy.“There are storage compartments in the speedboat.”Griffin explained the plan.“Do you feel comfortable hiding there?”

“I’m in this mess with you, so I want to help.I need to do it for Jinger.She drove me crazy, and I couldn’t wait to get away from her, but she didn’t deserve to die.I don’t know how to fight, but I’m scrappy.”

Griffin smiled at his brave offer.He knew Jordy was scared out of his mind and was pushing that aside to assist.

“I have an important job for you,” Griffin told him.“Can you drive a boat?”

Jordy nodded.“My parents had a cabin on a lake when I was growing up.We spent the summers waterskiing, tubing, and fishing.”

“Good.You are going to captain the getaway vessel.You’ll need to stay out of sight but be ready to make a quick getaway.Can you do that?”

Jordy stiffened his spine.“Yes.”

“Good man.”

They discussed more details as Griffin removed the chains from around Franklin’s wrists and ankles.Then he slid his arms under Franklin and lifted him.Indigo led the way with the flashlight.She made sure the coast was clear and then assisted Jordy out of the cargo hold.It was a struggle to carry Franklin’s dead weight up the steps.Indigo helped Griffin with the last few.

She did another quick check to make sure they were alone and then guided Jordy to the speedboat.After opening one of the storage bays, she arranged blankets on the ground and stepped back to give Griffin room to place Franklin inside.She grabbed more cushioning in the form of life jackets for Jordy and made a spot for him on the floor next to the driver’s seat.Griffin ensured the keys were in the ignition.They were.

“If you see any trouble, get away as fast as you can,” Griffin instructed him.

“I’m not leaving without the two of you.”

“If something happens, motor thirty feet or so away and wait.If we can, we’ll wave you down to pick us up or swim to you.”

“Got it.”

Indigo hugged him, and they climbed out and snuck upstairs to Indigo’s room.She locked the door, and he pulled her to him again.Her face looked even worse in the light.It was swollen and turning an ugly shade of purple.Griffin touched a finger beneath the bruise.“Does it hurt?”

“Not when you’re holding me.”

The love he felt for her almost overwhelmed him.They’d only known each other for a few days, but it had been enough to realize that she was his equal in every way.His life had been good before.He’d had no complaints.But he hadn’t known what was missing.Now, he did.He couldn’t imagine life without Indigo in it.